The Shocking Moment A Bus Washes Away After Collapsing In A Giant Sinkhole

A bus packed with passengers in Brazil narrowly escaped what could’ve been a terrible accident, as it was swallowed by a massive sinkhole on March 23.

The crater formed on a road in the northern Para state near the cities of Itaituba and Ruropolis, according to The Guardian.

Fortunately, the bus was evacuated minutes before it fell into the giant hole before being washed away by intense floodwater. No injuries were reported.

Almost two weeks ago, Brazilian government officials stated that more than 20,000 people have been affected by flooding triggered by torrential rains in the city of Boca do Acre in Brazil's northern state of Amazonas. As of March 17, more than 70 families are displaced and currently living in sheltered in tents provided by the Civil Defense Department.

Sinkholes are a result of a natural geologic phenomena when soft rocks such as limestone, gypsum or salt beds erode due to frequent exposure to groundwater.

Although these craters form all over the world, it’s common in regions where the rock below the land surface is soluble.

“Around 20 percent of the U.S. lies in areas susceptible to sinkhole events,” according to USGS. “The most damage from sinkholes tends to occur in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.”

Florida is particularly at risk for sinkholes because of the huge amount of limestone it sits on.